Thread-controlling device for sewing-machines



N0. 6|3,4 74. Patented Nov. I, I898.

F. H. RICHARDS.

THREAD CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES.

(Application filed Sept. 30, 1 896. Renewed Mar. 26, 1898.)

(N0 Model.)

-Wi6nesses: $92M TNE NDRRX; PETERS co.. Mauro-m0" WASHINGTON. 0.1:.

FRANCIS HFRICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

THREAD-CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,474, dated November1, 1898. Application fil d September 30, 1896. Renewed March 26, 1898.Serial No. 675,335. N m d L To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known thatI, Farmers H. RICHARDS,a citizen of the United States,residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to thread-controlling means for the needle-threadof a sewing-machine, the object thereof being to provide an improveddevice of this character adapted to be placed in such position that itwill preferably be in close proximity to the needle and operable topermit the freeadvance of the thread, but effectually prevent thepremature backward movement or retraction thereof during the first partof the upstroke of the needle, whereby in that class of machines inwhich it is necessary to form a loop for the looper or shuttle and whichloop is formed on the downward movement of the-needle and expanded onthe upward movement of the needle by the friction of its thread with thefabric the thread will be held against premature retraction, due to itstaut or stretched condition,by this improved controlling means, and theproper loop will thus be formed.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification,Figure 1 is a front view of a part of a machine-head, together with apresser-foot, needlebar, and needle,with one form of this improvedthreadcontrolling means in position adjacent to the lower end of saidneedle-bar. Fig. 2 is a side view looking toward the left in Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken in line a a, Fig. 2, andthus illustrates a top view of this form of controlling means. Fig. 4 isan enlarged side viewof this thread-controlling device, a part thereofbeing broken away. Fig.' 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken in line6 e, Fig. 4, and shows one form of fastening means for securing thecontrolling means to the needle-bar. Fig. 6 is a cross sectional viewtaken in line b b, Fig. 4, and looking toward the left; and Fig. 7 is across-sectional view of another form of bracket having therein acoiled-spring controller of a different contour from that shown in Fig.4.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of thedrawings.

While this improved thread controlling means can beused in connectionwith various sewing-machines, it is, however, more especially adaptedfor that class of machines in which it is necessary to form a loop fromthe needle-thread for the looper or shuttle to engage and which loop isexpanded on the inauguration of the upstroke of the needle by thefriction of the needle-thread with the fabric or work and in which ithas been found in practice that on such upstroke of the needlethethread, being taut or under tension, is somewhat drawn backward orretracted and slipsthrough the eye of the needle, thus oftentimespreventing the proper formation of a loop below the work, and thereforein order to prevent this premature backward movement or retraction ofthe thread I have provided improved thread-controlling means adapted tobe secured to aneedle-bar, preferably adjacent to the lower end thereof,whereby it will bein close proximity to the needle, and consequently inclose proximity to the upper side of the fabric when the needle haspassed through the same and is about to commence its upstroke, andoperable effectually to prevent the premature retraction of the threadand thus prevent the proper loop to be formed.

It will be understood that the construction v or disposition of thecontrolling means,where= by it will be operablein close proximity to theneedle, and consequently in as close proximity to the upper side of thefabric at the inauguration of the upstroke of the needle as thepresser-foot will permit or it is deemed de sirable, is somewhatimportant, as it will thus be in position to operate effectively on thethread comparatively close to the needle-eye, and thus hold the slackportion of the thread, which is necessary to form the loop, from slipping backward on the upward movement of the needle.

This improved thread-controlling means comprises in a general way asupporting means or bracket having a thread guide or guides and athread-controller disposed in position to permit the free advance of thethread, but prevent the premature backward movement or retractionthereof, such controlling means being preferably and as herein shown sodis-- posed that it will be in position at a compara tively shortdistance above the fabric or work when the needle commences its upwardmovement, and in the preferred form thereof, herein shown and described,it comprises supporting means in the nature of a bracket 10, terminatingat one end thereof in a sleeve or hub 12, having an interiorly-threadedprojection 13 at one side thereof, and which sleeve or hub is adapted toencircle the needle-bar m and be removably secured thereto by anysuitable or desired fastening means. In the structure shown, however,said sleeve or hub is secured to the needle-bar by a set or thumb screw14, the threads 15 of which, howey er, are in position to engage thethreads of said projection 13, whereby the inner end 16 of saidthumb-screw can be left unthreaded to project into a smooth-boredaperture 17 of the needle-bar, thus obviating the necessity of forming ascrew-threaded aperture in the needle-bar. This improved fastening meanscan also be used, if desired, to secure the needle 0: in position bysimply extending the bore 17 so as to communicate with the needle-slot,whereby the needle will be held in position by the end of such fasteningdevice and can be released without releasing the controlling means fromits position. This fastening device is shown provided with a squared orT- shaped knurled head 18, whereby it cannot only be used as athumb-screw, but can also be manipulated by means of a wrench, ifdesired.

The bracket 10 in one form thereof embodies a pair of extending arms 21and 22, one, as 21, projecting upward and being provided at its outerend with a guide device (shown in the nature of a querl or spiral loop23) for the passage of the thread, while the other arm, as 22, extendsdownward with its lower end below the hub or sleeve 12 and adjacent tothe needle w, and is likewise provided with a thread-guide device, alsoin the nature of a querl or spiral loop 24L,which may be shaped or bentaround said needle 00 or disposed at one side thereof, as in the formshown. in Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10. The bracket intermediate the inner endsof these arms 21 and 22 is formed to obtain a thread support or bed, andsaid bracket is therefore in one form thereof shown having a curved rearwall 20, terminating at its under side in a laterally extendingtransversely curved thread support or bed 25, which is also preferablylongitudinally curved for guiding the thread intermediate the guidedevices 23 and 2t, and terminating at its upper side in aparallellaterally-extendin g transversely-curved flange 26.

Secured to the bracket in any suitable or desired way is athread-controller adapted to permit the forward passage or advance ofthe thread at all times, but absolutely prevent the premature backwardmovement or retraction of the same 011 the inauguration of the upwardmovement of the needle, and which thread-controller may be of variousforms and constructions; but in one preferred form thereof shown itcomprises a series of parallel members, each member of which may be inthe nature of a coil, whereby the whole forms a coiled spring 30. Thisspring is secured intermediate the curved thread-bed 25 and the curvedflange 26, which is provided on its under side with a series oftransversely-extending grooves 27, one for each coil of the spring,whereby such coil has a pivotal bearing engagement with its groove. Thisspring may be held in place in any desired way, but is herein shownsecured in position by means of a member 33, extending through the coilsthereof and having its ends bent over the outer side of the flange 26.From the foregoing it will thus be seen that the upper portion of eachcoil acts as a pivot for the move ment of the lower portion thereof,whereby as the needle on its downstroke draws the thread forward thecoils will be actuated in a longitudinal direction therewith to permitthe thread to pass freely beneath the same; but when the needlecommences its upstroke the coils swing in the opposite direction andfirmly engage or clamp the thread on the bed 25, thus preventing thepremature backward movement or retraction of such thread. The spring ofcourse is constantly under tension, whereby it will always prevent thebackward movement of the thread beneath the same, this being preferablyobtained by having said spring of substantially the same diameter as thedistance between the bed 25 and flange 26, whereby when the thread is inposition the spring will be forced out of its normal position and thecoils thus always held in inclined position and under tension. The sameresult might also be accomplished by forming the coils ofslightly-larger diameter than the distance between said flange andthreadbed.

In the construction shown in Fig. 7 the spring is shown having its coilsprovided with flat top and under faces, the thread bed or support 25 andthe flange 26 being shown flat transversely thereof, in this instance-toconform to the contour of the spring.

In the construction shown it will be seen that the under face of eachbracket is preferably longitudinally curved and also transverselycurved, whereby injury to the hand of the operator is avoided should thebracket strike the same during the operation of the machine.

In threading the machine it will be seen that the thread can be quicklyand easily drawn beneath the controller by drawing such thread from theouter edge of the bed 25 inward toward the side wall of the bracket andthat once in position the controller automatically operates to alwayspermit the advance thereof, but effectively prevents the prematureretraction of the same.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. Thread-controlling meanscomprising a bracket adapted to be secured to a needle-bar and having asupport or bed for the thread and a flange above said bed, and athreadcontroller disposed on said bracket and comprising a coiled springlocated between said flange and bed and operable to permit the forwardpassage of the thread but prevent retraction thereof.

2. The combination, with a needle-bar, of a bracket provided withthread-guides one of which surrounds the needle, and a threadcontrollerlocated between said guides.

3. Thread-controlling means for a sewingmachine, comprising a bracket,having a thread support or bed and a pair of extending arms, eachprovided with a thread-guide, and a thread -controller disposed on saidbracket and comprising a coiled spring having fiat upper and lower facesand operable to engage the thread on its passage over said bed,tothereby prevent the retraction thereof.

4. The combination,with a sewing-machine needle-bar and its needle, ofthread-controlling means comprising a bracket having a thread support orbed and also having an extending arm provided with a guide deviceencircling the needle, and a thread-controller supported in position onsaid bracket to engage the thread on its passage over said bed andoperable to prevent the retraction of the same.

5. Thread-controlling means for a sewingmachine, comprising a brackethaving a thread support or bed and a laterally-extending flange providedon its under side with transversely-extending grooves, and athreadcontroller comprising a spring seated in said grooves, wherebysaid controller is in position to engage the thread on its passage overthe bed and prevent the retraction thereof.

6. Thread-controlling means for a sewingmachine, comprising a brackethaving a laterally-extending transversely-curved thread support or bedand a pair of extending arms, each of said arms being provided with aguide device adjacent to one end thereof, said bracket also having alaterally-extending transversely-curved flange provided with a series ofgrooves on its under side, and a thread-controller comprising a coiledspring secured in position with a coil resting in each of said grooves,respectively, whereby the controller is operable to engage the thread onits passage over said bed and prevent the retraction thereof.

7. In combination, with a sewing-machine needle-bar carrying a needle,thread-controlling means comprising a bracket having a hub or sleeveencircling said needle-bar, Y

and fastening means for securing the same in position, said brackethaving a thread support or bed and a pair of extending arms, eachprovided with a thread-guide adjacent to one end thereof, and acontroller comprising a coiled spring secured to said bracket andoperable to prevent the retraction of the thread.

8. In combination, with a sewing-machine needle-bar having atransversely-extending smooth-bored aperture and carrying a needleintersecting said aperture, thread-controlling means comprising abracket having a thread support or bed and a hub or sleeve encirclingsaid bar and provided with an interiorlythreaded projection; fasteningmeans therefor comprising a screw having threaded and non-threadedportions, the former engaging the threads of the projection and thelatter extending into the transverselyextending bore of the needle-barand adapted to engage the needle to clamp the same in position; and athread-controller secured to said bracket and operable to engage thethread on its passage over said bed and prevent the retraction of thesame.

'. 9. Thread-controlling means comprising a bracket having a threadsupport or bed and a thread controller consisting of a coiled springhaving the coils thereof extending transversely of the plane of movementof the thread, whereby the controller is operable to prevent theretraction of said thread.

10. In combination, with a sewing-machine needle-bar and its needle,thread-controlling means comprising a bracket having a hub or sleeveencircling said bar and secured thereto adjacent to the lower endthereof, said bracket comprising an arm at its-upper end provided with aguide device, an arm at its lower end projecting in close proximity tothe needle and also provided with a guide device encircling said needle,a laterallyextending longitudinally and transversely curved threadsupport or bed, and a laterally-extending transversely-curved parallelflange intermediate said arms, said flange having a series oftransversely-extending grooves on its under side; and athread-controller comprising a spring having a series of coils, eachcoil thereof having a pivotal engagement in one of said grooves,respectively, whereby the controller is operable to engage theneedle-thread on its passage over the bed and prevent retractionthereof.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS. Witnesses:

FRED. J. DOLE, HENRY BISSELL.

